The Fly - Analysis

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The Fly is a short, dark comedy film directed Olly Williams. It follows a getaway driver waiting in his car, as he is driven to madness by a pestering fly.

Cinematography

Close ups of the fly itself emphasise the impact it is having on the Driver. It also makes the fly seem gross, making the viewer as emphasise with the uncomfort of the Driver. As this uncomfort drive him to violence, the camera becomes much more dynamic. It moves frantically with the Driver, as he destroys his BMW. The camera shows the Driver from nearly every angle, emphasising the sense of claustrophobia as we see him cramped in this small car.

Editing

The cut to the title sets a tone of the film - jarring, surprising and bold. The shots alternate between inside the car, outside the car, and shots of the bank door. Inside the car is carnage and outside is calm. This juxtaposition creates comedy, while the occasional slowly-dollying shots of the door create tension. At any moment we expect the door to burst open, but the camera simply continues to slowly zoom in. When the doors finally open, it creates the best moment of comedy in the film, where we cut to and from the chaos of the car, and the chaos of the bank robbers, both suspended in time.

Mise-en-Scene

MES establishes an aesthetic, of the grainy retro English gangster. He has a leather jacket, toothpick, big gold watch and he is sitting in a dark green boxy 1987 BMW 5 series. Instantly draws on cliché and establishes the Driver as a classic English Gangster. This sets us up to expect a crime caper, and Williams subverts this to create comedy.

Sound

We start with a soundbite suggesting a robbery. Much like the mise-en-scene, the sound immediately sets the retro English Gangster tone, with the gruff Cockney accent and the cocking of the shotgun. The opening shot of the Driver is accompanied by the low grumbling of the engine. This creates tension, as the car is sitting in neutral; ready to drive off at any moment.

Performance

The casting of the Driver is perfect - also adds to the creation of cliché.